Toy or the like



P. G. WEEBER TOY OR THE LIKE Nov. 17; 1959 2,912,790

Filed Feb. 20, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR v P, G. WEEBER TOY OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR NOV. 17, 1959 Filed Feb. 20, 1958 United The present invention relates to improvements in toys for children or the like, and more specifically it deals with a bubble producing apparatus for inclusion in such toys or the like for giving the appearance of action to them.

Children take a much greater interest in toys when those toys appear to do something. Many toys include devices for giving a visible action effect. In many instances that visible effect symbolizes the action of the actual device which the toy is made to resemble. In other instances the visible effect has no actual relationship with the operational appearance of the device which the toy is made to resemble. In either event the child is much more interested in the toy because of the visible effect that the toy produces. The principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus by which toys or the like may be made to produce such a visible effect. This is done by the inclusion in the toy of a bubble blowing apparatus. Preferably the bubbles are blown in a manner such that a smoke is included in the bubble so that when the bubble subsequently bursts the smoke is given off. Thus, not only is the child entranced by the appearance of the bubbles coming from the apparatus, but also takes pleasure in the smoke released when the bubbles break. In some embodiments a colored smoke may be employed, thus adding to the appearance produced by the toy.

One of the principal advantages of my invention is the simplicity of the apparatus involved. This not only enables the apparatus to be included in a toy at a very nominal increase in cost of the toy, but also makes it more likely that the apparatus will continue to operate properly even under the abuse that a child may give to the toy. Furthermore, it makes it possible for the production of a do it yourself kit for the manufacture of the toy whereby the child will not only obtain the pleasure of seeing the operation of the finished toy but may actually feel that he has a hand in the manufacture of the toy. In such instances it is possible to connect the assembly of the toy by the child with an educational function. If the toy is made to resemble a piece of apparatus about which the child is to be taught, the interest that the child will have in its construction and operation can be used to get across the educational message about the subject matter.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view, partially broken away, of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an alternative form of air supply which may be used with the various embodiments of the invention; and

Figure 3 is another embodiment of the invention.

The appearance of the various types of toys into which my invention may be incorporated is almost limitless. The appearance and the childs interest in substantially any form of toy can be increased by incorporating in s Patent A 2,912,190 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 that toy the invention that I have devised. One possible form is illustrated in' Figure 1. Here the box-like container in which the apparatus is housed is formed to resemble a nuclear reactor. The toy is such that it can be assembled by a child. The interest that the child will develop in assembling and operating the apparatus can be used to further the childs knowledge of what is actually involved in a nuclear reactor or in nuclear fission. The container of the embodiment of Figure 1 is a box having four sides, three of which, 16 11 and 12, respectively, are shown, a top 13, and a bottom 14. The upper edges of the sides are grooved as seen at 15 to form a recess within which the top 13 is received. The sides and the bottom may be held together in any suitable manner such as by means of nails, pegs, screws, etc. I prefer to use pegs in one part, with pre-drilled holes to receive the pegs in the adjoining part, so that all the child has to do is to fit the sides together. Two of the sides have a slot 16 and a corresponding slot 17 to receive a divider 18 and hold it in place Within the box.

One of the compartments formed Within the box by divider 18 is used to hold the source of air pressure. In this embodiment the source of air pressure comprises a balloon 21 having a neck generally 22 extending outside the box. The neck 22 is formed of a tube 23 which passes into an opening in balloon 21 with the balloon being secured to the tube by means of a band 24 secured about the outside of the balloon where it surrounds tube 23. The band may take any one of a number of forms, e.g. a string, a wire, a rubber band, etc. To aid in holding the balloon on tube 23, the end of the tube 23 has an enlarged boss 25 thereabout so that the balloon wont slip off of the tube. The tube 23, of course, is hollow and is provided with a cap 26 which is a rubber cap having a hole therein approximately the size of the outer diameter of tube 23 with the cap fitting frictionally tight on the upper end of the tube. Neck 22 extends through a suitable opening, not shown, in top 13.

Balloon 21 is connected to and communicates with a tube 28, being secured to the tube by a band 29. A flexible tube 30 is slipped over and frictionally engages tube 28. Tube 30 extends through an opening 31 in the bottom of divider 18. The flow of air is controlled by a valve 32 having a valve operating rod 33 with a spring 34 on the lower end thereof. Spring 34 is held between the body of valve 32 and a cap 35 secured to the bottom end of rod 33 with the spring being used to urge the operating rod 33 downwardly, in which position the valve is closed. A valve actuating member 36 is threaded onto the upper end of rod 33 and protrudes through a suitable opening in top 13. Valve 32 has an intake connection 37 onto which flexible tube 34) is frictionally engaged, and an outlet connection which is threaded into the smoke generator generally 40. Valve 32 is attached to Wall 14 by means of a bracket 41 and screws 42.

Smoke generator 40 comprises an enclosed vessel 43 having an inlet connection secured to outlet connection 38 of valve 32, and an outlet connection comprising pipe 44 onto which a hose 45 is frictionally secured. A bracket 46 supports the smoke generator 40 on side 10 of the enclosure. Screws 47 are used to hold bracket 46 onto side 10. An intake pipe 50 communicates with vessel 43 with the pipe projecting upwardly through top 13. A cap 51 is threaded into pipe 5% and permits the pipe to be opened for the insertion of smoke generating fluid and thereafter closed. An electric heater 52 is mounted on the side of vessel 43 with the heating element 53 extending into the interior of the vessel adjacent the bottom thereof. A Wire 54 connects heater 52 with lamp base 55 and a wire 56 extends out through the side 10 of the container to a suitable source of electric power.

S A lamp 57 is mounted in lamp base 55. The lamp 57 is used to provide a glow from the inside of the container. In some embodiments where a low voltage heater 52 is employed, the lamp 57 may be wired in series therewith to serve as a dropping resistor.

The bubble producing apparatus generally 60 is mounted in alignment with opening 61 in wall 11 of the container. Bubble apparatus 69 comprises a container 62 having an open top. A bubble ring 63 is secured to an arm 64 attached to lever 65. At one end lever 65 is pivotally attached to a mounting bracket 66 by means or" a pin 67. Bracket 66 is secured to the side of container 62. Adjacent the other end of lever 65 is a slot 68. A pin 69 secured to actuating member 70 passes through slot 65 and is held in place by C washer 71. Rod 70 projects through opening 72 in top 13.

A tube 75 having an orifice in end 76 thereof, is mounted on a bracket 77 attached to container 62. A pair of bands 78 secured to bracket 77 frictionally hold tube 75 in place. Flexible tube 45 slips over tube 75 with a frictional engagement being made between the tubes. A colored marking 79 positioned immediately adjacent one of the bands 78 shows where tube 75 should be positioned with respect to ring 63.

Important factors in the operation of the bubble blowing apparatus are the diameter of the opening of ring 63, the size of the orifice in end '76 of tube 75, and the distance between the orifice in end '76 and ring 63. The diameter of the opening in ring 63 should be between about of an inch and about 1% inches. The size of the orifice should be between about of an inch and about of an inch. The distance between the orifice and the ring should be from about /2 of an inch to about 1 inch. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the diameter of the opening in ring 63 is about A; of an inch, the orifice is about of an inch, and the distance between the orifice and the ring is about /4 of an inch. These are the preferred dimensions.

In operating the apparatus described in Figure 1, the box is assembled and closed. Balloon 21 is blown by removing cap 26, blowing up the balloon, and replacing cap 26. Twisting tube 23 as soon as the balloon is blown will close the opening leading to tube 23 temporarily, while cap 26 is replaced. Container 60 is filled with a liquid soap solution. Such solutions are sold generally in toy stores for use by children in bubble blowing. Cap 51 is removed and a few drops of a smoke solution is poured down tube 543 with cap 51 thereafter being replaced. Of course, electric heater 52 will have been energized to heat up element 53. The element 53 vaporizes the smoke solution. Such smoke solutions are sold generally in toy stores, particularly those handling model train equipment for use in such equipment. Actuating member 70 is lowered which pivots arm 64 downwardly to dip ring 63 in the soap solution in container 62. When pivoted downwardly ring 63 is in an approximately horizontal position within container 62. Valve 32 is opened by raising actuating member 36. Thereafter actuating member 70 may be raised and lowered to dip ring 63 in and out of the soap solution. As the ring 63 is raised to the vertical position illustrated in Figure 1, it is positioned vertically in alignment with the orifice in end 76 of tube 75. A stop 80 secured to bracket 66 may be employed to limit the upward movement of the lever 65 and thus fix the proper position of ring 63. Spring 81 urges lever 65 towards the upward position. The air from balloon Zll will pick up the smoke in the smoke generator 40, which smoke will be in the air blown across the soap films on ring 63 and as the bubbles are blown the smoke will be entrained therein. The bubbles will be blown out of opening 61 in wall ill and as the bubbles break after they have proceeded some distance outside the container, the smoke will be released from the bubbles. While the smoke generator may be eliminated in some embodiments as .4 hereinafter described, it greatly increases the effectiveness of the appearance that is created and increases the enjoyment that children receive in playing with the toy. In the instructions the actuating members 36 and 7% may be described as control rods in an atomic pile. Like such control rods, as they are withdrawn the pile commences to operate and that operation is envisioned by the allusion to the bubbles that are thereupon blown from the side of the container through opening 61.

Figure 2 illustrates an alternative form of air pressure supply that may be used with the embodiment of Figure l or with other embodiments. In this embodiment a hollow rubber ball 85 is employed with a projecting tube 86 secured to the ball and communicating with the hollow interior thereof. Tube 86 is connected to flexible tube 3 9 previously described. The ball is mounted in a cage formed by a band 37 secured to a base 88 by means of screws 89. A fixed plunger 90 is secured to base 88 and mounted immediately below ball 85. A pin 91 is secured to plunger 99 and projects into ball 85 to hold the ball in place on the plunger 9% Diametrically opposite plunger 99 is a movable plunger 92 having a similar pin 93 projecting into ball 85. Plunger 92 contacts the top of ball 85 through a slot 94 in band 87. A pair of guides 95 are suitably mounted by attachment to one of the walls of the container and have openings through which plunger 92 passes.

Air is blown through tubes 86 and 3t; by the downward pressure on movable plunger 92 which compresses the ball and drives the air therein out. As the plunger is released, the natural resiliency of the ball returns the ball to its original shape, drawing air in through the same tubes. The cage and plunger principle used in conjunction with a ball such as that illustrated at 85 is particularly effective for use in bubble blowing equipment, inasmuch as a smooth fiow of air is thereby obtained for a relatively sustained period. The operation in this regard is entirely dilferent from what would be obtained, for example, by pressing the ball 85 between two large fiat surfaces. it is particularly important that the size of the area of the ends of plungers 90 and 92 where those ends contact ball 85 be substantially less than the radius of the ball. Preferably the dimensions of the ends of the plungers 9t} and 92 are approximately one-half the radius of the ball.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment designed to represent the appearance of a jet airplane. The body is shaped to resemble the body of such a plane having a transparent pilot enclosure lltiil, wings 102. with integral air scoops Hi3 and a tail 11424. A tube projects from the nose of body 190 and is connected to a flexible tube 106 leading to a suitable source of air pressure, not shown. At the rear of body 11% is an opening 197 resembling the exhaust opening of the jet motor employed in such an aircraft. A nose Wheel 198 is rotatably mounted on a depending bracket I09.

Adjacent the rear end of body 100 are a pair of depending brackets 113, an axle 114 extends through brackets 113 and has a pair of wheels 115 secured to the outer ends thereof. Between brackets 113 axle 114 forms a crank 116. Within the body ltltl is a lever 117 having an extending portion 118 pivotally mounted on a pin 119 which traverses the inside of the body 100 and is secured thereto. One end of lever 117 is pivotally connected to a connecting rod 120 by means of a pin ill. The other end of connecting rod 120 engages crank H6. At the other end of lever 117 is an arm 122 to which is secured a ring 123. Ring 123 resembles ring 63 described in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1. A soap solution container 124 is secured to the bottom of body Hit? in a position to surround ring 123 when it is in the lowered position. As crank 116 turns from the full line position illustrated in Figure 3 to the dotted position illustrated at 116, the ring 123 is moved to the position illustrated at 123'. In this position ring 123 is aligned with an orifice in the end 125 of tube 105. Thus air coming from the orifice, which air may or may not contain smoke as previously described, goes across the ring and creates soap bubbles from the soap solution that was picked up on the ring when it was in container 124. These soap bubbles are blown out of the tail opening 107 of the toy, giving the illusion of a jet motor in action. As the toy is pulled along the floor, the rotation of wheels 115 will alternately lower the ring 123 into the soap solution and raise it into the upper position at which the bubbles will be blown. The soap solution is inserted into container 124 by means of an eye dropper which can be projected through the rearward opening 107 in the tail of the aircraft.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments of the invention is for the purpose of compliance with 35 U.S.C. 112 and should not be regarded as imposing any unnecessary limitations on the appended claims inasmuch as modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the description.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for a toy or the like for blowing bubbles using a liquid soap or the like, a liquid container having an open top to hold the liquid soap or the like, a ring having an opening therethrough, an arm with one end thereof being connected to said ring, said arm being pivotally mounted, operating means connected to said arm to pivot said arm and move said ring from a first position at which said ring is generally horizontal within said container to a second position at which said ring is generally vertical and outside said container, a tube having an orifice therein, said tube being positioned with said orifice at one side of said ring when said ring is in said second position with said orifice spaced from said opening and directed at said opening, a closed vessel having inlet and outlet connections, an entrance passageway communicating with said vessel, a closure for said passageway whereby said passageway may be opened for the introductionof a smoke generating liquid into said vessel and thereafter closed, an electric heater in said vessel to turn said liquid into smoke, said tube being connected to said outlet connection of said vessel, and a source of air under pressure being connected to said inlet connection of said vessel.

2. A mechanism for a toy or the like for blowing bubbles using a liquid soap or the like, a liquid container having an open top to hold the liquid soap or the like, a ring having an opening therethrough of a diameter of about seven-eighths of an inch, an arm with one end thereof being connected to said ring, said arm being pivotally mounted,'operating means connected to said arm to pivot said arm and move said ring from a first position at which said ring is generally horizontal within said container to a second position at which said ring is generally vertical and outside said container, a tube having an orifice therein, the diameter of said orifice being about one thirty-second of an inch, said tube being positioned with said orifice at one side of said ring When said ring is in said second position with said orifice spaced from said opening about three-quarters of an inch and directed at said opening, a closed vessel having inlet and outlet connections, an entrance passageway communicating with said vessel, a closure for said passageway whereby said passageway may be opened for the introduction of a smoke generating liquid into said vessel and thereafter closed, an electric heater in said vessel to turn said liquid into smoke, said tube being connected to said outlet connection of said vessel, and a balloon connected to and communicating with said tube, said balloon having a neck with an opening through which said balloon may be inflated, and means to close said opening after said balloon has been inflated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,409,471 Brosseit Oct. 15, 1946 2,659,177 Kopf Nov. 17, 1953 2,673,419 Kelch et al. Mar. 30, 1954 2,675,641 Baggott Apr. 20, 1954 2,700,845 Feb. 1, 1955 

